Fund-Raising Drive for Academy’s Festival Hall Trip

A FUND-RAISING drive is under way to help pupils at a Middlesbrough school embark on a dream musical trip.

Young singers from Brambles Primary Academy are heading to London’s Royal Festival Hall along with other local primary schools to take part in a showcase of the area’s talent, history and individual heritage.

They’ll be joining 200 singers from other academies in Middlesbrough and Redcar & Cleveland on Monday, June 11.

The event was inspired by the work of late teacher and music ambassador Kel Dennis whose son Adam Dennis - a professor at the Royal College of Music in London - is a key volunteer member of the production team.

Local Councillor Terry Lawton, whose ward covers Brambles Academy, is now calling on local residents to help the school raise the £350 needed per pupil for the trip.

Cllr Lawton said: “I recently went on a tour of the school, and was enormously impressed with the work they do there.

“The children were like angels in their classrooms and were taking part both actively and with enthusiasm.

“That’s a tribute to the Head, her team, the children and their parents who all make a hugely positive contribution to the success of the Academy.

“It was truly uplifting to see classrooms of children happy, safe and learning from teachers who are obviously fulfilling a vocation.

“The trip to the Royal Festival Hall will be the experience of a lifetime for the children, and I’m sure local residents would like to help the school to raise the funds needed to make the dream a reality.”

National research has shown that taking part in performing arts helps children improve and develop different skills which play an important role in adult life.

Brambles Primary Academy is working closely with a number of high-profile musicians based in London, with invitees to June’s event set to include the Minister for Education as well as local, regional and national school commissioners.

Brambles Primary Academy Deputy Headteacher Louise Stogdale said: “This is an extremely exciting opportunity for our children, giving them a rare chance to perform on stage at a world-class venue.

“We are passionate about raising the aspirations for our young people and their families and we have a duty to serve our children well, by providing activities that offer a broad and balanced curriculum.

“As well as the opportunity of performing in the Royal Festival Hall, we are ensuring children experience the sights of London, including a visit to the Houses of Parliament, a trip to the theatre, a Thames river cruise and a spin on the London eye.

“The itinerary is packed full, but as many of our children have never had similar experiences, we need to make sure that this opportunity is an unforgettable one.

“We are doing lots of fund-raising activities to subsidise the cost of the trip to pupils, and we’re truly grateful for every donation which will help to make this life-changing event possible.”

Anyone wishing to contribute to the fund-raising campaign is asked to call 01642 210704 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Community Voice FM (CVFM) Ltd is not for profit media organisation based in Middlesbrough: we operate a grassroots-led radio station. 104.5 CVFM Radio started broadcasting in August 2009 serving the diverse population of Middlesbrough and the surrounding areas.